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If the idea of stepping into a meeting, whether in person or virtually, gives you shivers, you’re not alone. Meetings are the arena of the workplace. This is the place where you’re going to have everyone, well, unfortunately, sizing you up and asking themselves, are you competent? Are you committed? Are you compatible? And are you promotable? So it’s important to approach meetings deliberately, and there are things that you can do before, during, and after meetings to show your best self.
Before meetings. Often, you might get that random calendar invitation and be asked to join a meeting and not have any idea of what’s expected of you. Well, if you’re not sure, this is your chance to pull aside a coworker or your manager and to ask, “I’d love to join. Is there anything I can do to prepare?” “I noticed my name was on the agenda. Is there anything that I should speak to?” “Is there anything that you’d like for me to do during the meeting?” “Should I take notes?” “Should I ask a certain question and direct it your way?” “How can I be helpful?”
During the meeting, it’s important to understand: Is this a meeting where you’re supposed to be heard and seen, seen but not heard, or neither seen nor heard? If you’re on, for example, a conference call with 50 other people, and it’s only the head honchos of two organizations who are speaking, there’s probably going to be an unspoken expectation that you will stay on mute and not announce yourself. If you’re in a larger setting, it may be the case, especially if it’s in a virtual call, a video call, or an in-person meeting, that you’ll show your face, you might introduce yourself upfront, but you’ll be seen but not heard because you’ll be the person taking minutes or be the person to be called upon, in which case, you should be ready with your talking points just in case that question gets directed to you.
However, if you’re in a meeting where others are at your level and speaking as well, or if this is a smaller team setting, this is probably going to be a situation where others will expect you to contribute as well. And contributing means asking clarifying questions, contributing ideas, structuring other people’s ideas, bring the meeting back on track. There’s so many ways for you to contribute. The most important thing is for you to not be invisible and to have your voice heard in line with other people at your level.
Now, after meetings, the meeting hasn’t just actually ended. Even though it has, your work has only just begun. This is also a chance for you to ask questions and to demonstrate that you are paying attention and eager to learn and grow. This is your chance, after the meeting, to pull a coworker or your manager aside and say, “Do you have some time to clarify expectations with me?” And by the way, if you didn’t have a chance to speak up during the meeting, the opportunity isn’t over. You have a chance after the meeting to pull a person aside and to say, “Hey, I didn’t get a chance to share this and this. Just wanted to let you know that I loved your presentation earlier.” The meeting may be the arena, but the relationship-building happens around the arena, both during and after meeting, so don’t forego that opportunity.